While holding that one of the main tasks ahead for the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to ensure availability of medicines in far flung and inaccessible areas of the country, its newly-appointed chairman Dr S M Jharwal has sent a stern warning to the companies against any attempt to 'circumvent the price fixation and permissible price increase'.

The Indian Patent Office (IPO) has granted 3,506 patents relating to pharmaceutical innovations over the last three years, the government said today.

Even as the district collectors in several states have started executing recovery proceedings against several pharma companies for overcharging of various drug formulations, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has clarified that individual companies are welcome to approach the NPPA for redressing any grievances regarding the overcharging issue.

The industry has by and large hailed the Union budget for the financial year 2009-10 presented by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.